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The Kennedy Heights Montessori Center was founded in 1965 by a group of
neighborhood residents wishing to provide a beneficial pre-school
experience for their young children. The school was organized as a parent
co-operative with a philosophy and curriculum based on principles developed
by Maria Montessori.
The
school originally was located in the Kennedy Heights Presbyterian Church.
In 1976, with the opening of the Woodford Primary School and Recreation Center,
the school moved to space in the Recreation Commission portion of the new
building. This joint venture helps the Montessori Center provide high
quality programming at a reasonable cost to families and continues to be a
successful example of public/private cooperation.
With
the move, the Center added full-day day care service to the half-day
Montessori classroom experience. A building addition constructed in 1990
increased capacity for full-day programming as well as improving existing
classroom space.
The
school serves 90-100 children a year. From the earliest days, the Center
has maintained a strong commitment to a racially and economically diverse
student population. Our admission policies continue to reflect this
commitment.
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Dr. Maria Montessori, born in Italy in 1870, developed an educational
theory and practice that has been adopted by early childhood centers
worldwide. For many years, children of widely diverse cultural and economic
groups have benefited from her keen observation of and respect for, the
work children do in the construction of their individual personalities -
what she called "the development of the human potential."
In the
United States, her method is experiencing a re-birth of major proportions.
Early childhood educators have recognized the validity of her observation
that thinking in young children is directly tied to their interactions with
people and materials. Young children learn best and most by actively
exploring their environment, using hands-on materials and building upon
their natural curiosity to make sense of the world about them.
Montessorians
can agree whole-heartedly with the developmentally appropriate curriculum
defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC). In such a program, children select from among activities the
teacher has prepared and those initiated by the children themselves.
Children spend most of their time working individually or in small groups.
Children are allowed to move at their own pace to acquire important skills.
Because children will be at varying levels of skill acquisition, the classroom
contains materials for a wide range of development interests. Teachers add
more complex materials or ideas to the environment based on their
observation of a child's needs.
We
recognize that learning for young children does not thrive in narrowly
defined subject areas. Skills in reading and math are incorporated into a
variety of activities such as geography, science, art, music, cooking, etc.
Equally important, we understand that learning must take place within an
atmosphere that fosters a sense of belonging, self-confidence and respect
for the rights of others.
Accreditation:
The State of Ohio and the Cincinnati Health Department license the Kennedy
Heights Montessori Center. All our teachers are certified by the American
Montessori Society (AMS) or the Association Montessori International (AMI).
Click here for a brief biography of Dr. Maria
Montessori from the American Montessori Society website (www.amshq.org).
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As a parent co-op, the Kennedy Heights Montessori Center considers parental
involvement central to our earl childhood educational mission.
Many studies have shown that children do best in school when they enjoy
active support from their parents. At Kennedy Heights, the school could not
function without that involvement.
Parents are invited to be partners in their child's education through
regular interaction with teachers, invitations to chaperone field trips and
by attending special events. Parents also are expected to work for the
school through committees that perform various vital tasks including
cleaning and maintenance, fund raising, and programs. Some parents also
support the work our teachers do by serving as class secretaries.
Parents also play central roles in governing the school. The parent-led
Board of Trustees, with approval from parents as a group, sets the school's
budget and fees. It also selects the director and decides various policy
matters.
The hands-on work of parents is important to keeping some budget expenses
under control. More importantly, direct involvement of parents helps build
a personal level of commitment to the school and to the success of their
child's education.
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Click Here for a copy of the most recent school
calendar.
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Kennedy Heights Montessori Center
6120
Ridge Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45213
513-631-8135
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